Mortal Kombat Appeal Is Unsuccessful

We've just gotten word from Warner Bros that the Mortal Kombat appeal has been unsuccessful.

We have a statement from Warner Bros below. More news as we get it.

We’re obviously extremely disappointed that the refused classification decision has been upheld by the Classification Review Board. We want to thank the thousands of Mortal Kombat fans in Australia and around the world who have voiced their support during the appeal process.

Well, I'm kinda glad it didn't get through. At least they know it should be for adults, instead of weazling it through for 15 year olds. Stupid system. So, the people will just happily send our dollars overseas until this place gets its act together.
Honestly, we have the slowest moving legal system, how blooming hard can it be to make some changes??

"Well, I’m kinda glad it didn’t get through. At least they know it should be for adults, instead of weazling it through for 15 year olds. Stupid system. So, the people will just happily send our dollars overseas until this place gets its act together."

Good point, I agree, kudos to Warner Bros for the way they handle the epic fail. But really the majority of the money was going overseas anyway...

Having played the demo I can tell you there's nothing there that a 15 year old can't take in their stride. The so-called 'realism' that the classification board is citing is nowhere to be found, so unless they got sent different video, this really would have fit into MA15+ imho.

Actually we don't have a slow moving legal system unless politicians decide for it to move slowly. I was talking to someone the other day about a workplace safety incident and the law was changed to fill a gap in five days. That is five days from the incident to when it was passed by government including writing the new laws.

What was said was that their rating would not be reviewed unless they were asked to review it - if the rating system changes then WB can resubmit the EXACT same game and see if it makes it through the new rating system.

I didn't follow it all that closely at some points, but surely a publisher has the opportunity to re-submit a game that was RC in the past to be reviewed under any new rating guidelines.

Like to stress if the publisher chooses to do so, I don't expect the Classification Board to simply go over them on their own accord.

It just seems unfair to not have that ability and at the same time is slightly worrying, that perhaps they feel that some of the games wouldn't fit even into a R18 category, which could simply mean the system won't have changed, aside from some current MA15 games getting an R18 they already deserve.

That’s wrong (and stupid) pal is a region so if it supports pal then it works here, period. I've imported piles of R18 games from zavvi that were banned or censored here and never had a problem with any of them working or getting through customs.

Well I was definitely just interested in the game. Since I heard about it back in Sept last year I was so exited. So you can understand how devastated I was when I heard about the first banning and now with this it's just worse...
Now I have to deal with importing and all other problems to be able to get it.

Yes, actually, I was interested in it from the start.
I loved the original Mortal Kombats, although I slowly lost interest as they progressed into 3d fights and 20-step fatalities.
I was really looking forward to the return to the 2d roots with improved graphcs and gameplay.

I was brought up on MK over SF, so have always been interested in the series. As other mentioned the game kinda lost it's way over the years and it certainly good to see it returning to it's original gameplay style.

The forbidden fruit aspect does greatly interest me also, just like my two sealed copies of Manhunt! :)

Okay, so it's time to import, but I have a question to anyone who has imported an RC game before (either one outright RC's like MK, or an edited version like GTAIV).

Have customs ever caught the import - and if so, what happened?

I understand it's a risk to be importing an RC'd game (though I don't know why, as aside from WA it's not illegal to own an RC game, just illegal to buy it within Australia), and I just want to know what exactly might happen to me if I do happen to be caught by a random audit in customs. Will I get a slap on the wrist? Will I get a fine (if so, how much are we talking?)? Will they effectively confiscate the game and not ever let me have it?

How are they in any way allowed to do that? It's not illegal to actually own this stuff (unless you live in WA). It's just illegal to buy/sell here. If you buy overseas, I don't know what the problem is.

A possible criminal conviction, for buying a freaking GAME? Admittedly that outcome is probably only meant for X rated stuff or something but still, there's a potential risk there.

So in that "best case scenario" you mentioned if they catch you, where they send you a letter saying don't do it again, and you are added to the registered offenders list, do you still get the game, or do they withhold it?

There is nothing in the Customs Act or the Classification Act that connects RC games and prohibited goods. That's because the enforcement of laws regarding RC material is a matter of the State, not the Commonwealth.

The legality of importing RC material changes from state to state; in some areas you will have your goods seized and even possibly a fine. In other areas it's perfectly legal. In Victoria, for instance, it's illegal to sell it, put it on freeplay, lend it or show it to a minor, keep it in a games shop or import more than 10 copies of it, but importing one copy to keep to yourself is perfectly legal.

Either way, there's already alotta online game stores refusing to import mortal kombat to us. And there's always a good chance that customs could call a blitz on RC material next month, and open anything shaped like a DVD case.

Thanks for the link my friend, been looking on there site from time to tie but had only seen the regular version, so just pre-ordered the Kollectors. Then my heart sank when I got an email with subject line 'Important Information Regarding your Preorder' luckily though it was just to let me know the price has dropped from 69.99 to 49.99. Fingers crossed it gets through. If not I've got the Tournament Edition coming from Mighty Ape.

You are shooting aliens, etc... game is totally like not realistic like Mortal Kombat is with their 4 arm humanoids, skeletons, robots and even a reptile who shoot missiles, fireballs, acid, ice, etc...

ozgameshop.com ahoy! Not being a viral marketer but it's honestly the cheapest place to buy games and free shipping too. Just don't expect your game to arrive early though, you have to wait two weeks. Also there games are PAL region so no need to worry about the game being incompatible.

In a way I am glad that we finally have a big game that would have generated a lot of money for Australian Retailers being rejected. Now the pressure needs to be focused on and sent to the right people.

Isn't the Government glad now that they aren't going to get tax money off a really looked forward too game? Good going, It's going to do wonders for alot of gaming stores that are going to miss out on potential bank off this game... but hey! It's all to protect Children who have lousy Parent's!!

If any one thing about The Last Jedi has been contentious -- actually, no, strike that, everything about The Last Jedi has been contentious, including its approach to space combat (the Holdo Manoeuvre, anyone?). But according to one fan and critic, Rian Johnson's epic actually makes space combat in the Star Wars universe more explicable, not less.